Comments Off

By Sirum One, August 4, 2011 5:49 pm

Opening night 6PM, Friday the 5th of August, running until Sunday 21st of August.

Rtist Gallery is extremely excited to announce the first ever Melbourne solo show of the artist Sofles, who is establishing himself as a prodigious talent in the Urban art scene. For those who have not followed his work, Sofles has had a colourful journey through his ten-year career, which began as a graffiti artist in Brisbane, Australia. He wears many caps, demonstrating his raw talent through illustration, tattoo, canvas and any other mark-able surface.

To highlight the exciting nature of the SOFLES exhibit, Rtist is pleased to help celebrate the occasion by providing a sneak preview to its vibrant high end coffee space opening to complement the gallery. Greens Senator Sue Pennicuik has kindly offered to introduce the new cafe space at the beginning of the night with the area officially opening for business the following morning, Saturday the 6th of August at 8AM. “Rtist Gallery is thrilled to have Senator Pennicuik making time in her busy schedule to help open this space in conjuction with Sofles first ever solo show in Melbourne” said Toby Armstrong Director of Rtist Gallery.

Sofles burst onto the fine-art scene in 2009 with various sold-out exhibitions in Brisbane and Sydney, including collaborations with artists such as Anthony Lister, Ben Frost and Revok, and contracts with the likes of Red Bull, Myer, Adidas, and Toohey’s. Sofles imagery is wide and varied, with collages of mind-bending abstraction melting into intricate form, perfect snapshots of the artist’s wild imagination. Sofles states “Rtist Gallery has given me a great opportunity to have creative control of a vibrant new space.”  Rtist Gallery believes Sofles’ ability to create depth and detail with aerosol is unmatched, and combined with his bold use of colour renders pieces so distinctive they have firmly set Sofles reputation as one of Australia’s most watched contemporary artists.

His first Melbourne show boasts a whole collection of new and challenging works. Exploring mediums such as ink, watercolour, acrylic and spray-paint on wood, canvas and paper. His long anticipated trip south is a welcome addition to Melbourne’s ever strengthening Urban Art Scene. It’s a proud moment for Rtist Gallery to be exhibiting an artist with so much natural born talent. “In a budding career it’s an exciting time to truly see the rise of one of Australia’s finest modern contemporary artists” said Jeremy Gaschk Head Curator of Rtist Gallery. His show’s subject matter delves into the state of consciousness and is sure to raise interesting questions and discussions during the exhibition. “In this exhibition I’m exploring ideas around mixed consciousness, juxtapositioning fragments from the sensory overload of daily life” said Sofles. Teetering on the sharp edge of artistic clarity and new horizons, Sofles has found his harmony in long hours tucked away in the studio working on this significant exhibition.

With Rtist Gallery quickly establishing itself as one of the premier urban art exhibition hot spots of Melbourne, this show is sure to help further cement that standing. “Sofles attention to detail is sure to impress even the most avid art enthusiasts.” said Toby Armstrong Director of Rtist Gallery.

The exhibition opens at Rtist Gallery to the general public on Friday the 5th of August at 6PM. Rtist Gallery is located at 29 St Edmonds Rd, Prahran.

Comments Off

By Sirum One, June 30, 2010 2:28 pm

There is always two sides to every story…

Yeah, ok the police are worried that the idea of  a graffiti competition

could potentially spark an outbreak of unnecessary vandalism and that the competition

winners may consider using their prize paint for illegal graffiti ? Unlikely as who ever will be good

enough to win such a prize will most likely be highly professional and I can only imagine will continue

using the prize paint in only the most professional manner.

Yet obviously the related authorities have become so nervous by this competition that they

have decided to make an issue of it on the channel 10 news. The reality is that what the authorities

perceive as “mindless vandalism” is going to continue whether Ironlaks competition goes ahead or not?

Largely due to the well known fact that our government does absolutely nothing to help minimise

the impact of unwanted graffiti through turning their backs on the art form all together…

How many kids through to adults paint graffiti here in Australia alone??  Has anyone thought

about this?  There must be thousands… Graffiti, Aerosol art, Vandalism, Street Art – whatever the title.

What is it really? Its a culture and more so.. A culture about art.  And what our ignorant Government

should be doing is embracing it the same way many South American and European countries have to

to this very day by taking the positives from within the movement and creating  street art festivals,

permanent murals and legal zones that eventually generates tourism as people like to be cultured.

It all adds to the intimacy of a city or town by giving it a personality.

This could be done by organising in each council precinct its own legal space for artists to paint

on, much the same as skate parks. Also workshops where kids are taught properly by professionals how

to use related tools of the trade and how put them to proper creative use. Or how to seek out their own

legal space whether it be in the public or gallery.

I have talked at countless council town meetings over the years regarding this topic and at the end of

the session everyone cheers and agrees yet still nothing is ever done.

These are small steps our government could take to help curb the momentum of unwanted graffiti

on our streets. No its not going to solve their problem, and it never will as the tagging  is also

a large part of movement. BUT these simple ideas would have a far more significant impact then

sweeping the topic back under the mat as they do time and time again.

At the end of the day > Ironlaks idea to hold such a large scale graffiti event is nothing more then a

celebration of the art form itself. And a big chance for the hundreds or thousands of patrons of the

art to push themselves and come up with the most amazing graffiti works they can do at that point

in time. That’s NOT promoting illegal graffiti… It is simply embracing the talent and asking for the

very best of what we do to be put out their for not only ourselves but the wider community to enjoy

and admire.

Ironlak are taking the initiative by asking for the very best from us…

Something the Government should have thought about doing along time ago.

- Sirum One  30-6-2010

Comments Off

By Sirum One, June 29, 2010 12:19 pm

Good times in Billinudgel !! ( Yes.. that is the actual name )

Special thanks to – Levi R ~ Heath R ~ Mark R ~ Luke S,

Russ for finding the green frog, Task for showing us that

priceless piece of paradise!  And Last but not least…

Lee for his Cory Worthington impersonation.

Comments (0)

By Sirum One, June 3, 2010 7:00 pm

A little chrome @ black action never goes astray….

Thanks for the PHAT sketch mate

Comments (0)

By Sirum One, June 3, 2010 6:55 pm

Rest of the wall to be updated soon.

Comments (0)

By Sirum One, May 27, 2010 4:04 pm

FOR ALL THE OLD OZZIE ROCKERS….

> A NIGHT OUT WITH THE SCREAMING JETS

AMUSE

RESET

THE END IS NEIGH… BY PERSO F1

TRAIN BY PERSO

~ FIRE IN THE SKY ~

WAR OF THE WORLDS BY RESET & SIRUM

To answer your thoughts…

YES, These M9 venues are 101FUNTOWN to paint!!

BIG THANKS to > RESET – PERSO & AMUSE.

Stay tuned for NEW AUSSIE IRONLAK TEAM WALL…

To be updated as soon as Dyms gets off his ass to do so.